President Yoweri Museveni has announced the postponement of this year’s Martyrs’ Day celebrations following consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders over the Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo.
In a public statement addressed to Ugandans, particularly the youth known as the “Bazzukulu,” Museveni said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to protect lives, noting that Uganda annually receives thousands of pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Martyrs’ Day commemorations.
According to the President, the current Ebola situation in Eastern Congo presents a significant public health risk, making it necessary for the government to halt the event temporarily until conditions improve.
Museveni explained that a new date for the celebrations will be communicated later after further assessment by health authorities and relevant stakeholders.
“I encourage those who had begun their journey to return home, continue observing the precautionary measures, report anyone who is sick, and encourage those who are ill to seek medical care,” the President said.
The annual Martyrs’ Day event, held every June 3 at the Namugongo Shrines, attracts millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across the region, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Government officials have in recent weeks intensified surveillance and health screening measures at border points following reports of Ebola cases in neighboring Congo. Health experts have repeatedly warned that large gatherings could increase the risk of cross-border transmission if strict preventive measures are not observed.
Museveni acknowledged that the postponement may inconvenience many pilgrims and organizers who had already started preparations and journeys to Namugongo, but stressed that safeguarding lives remains the government’s top priority.
“We regret any inconvenience caused, but the protection of life must come first,” Museveni stated.
The announcement is expected to spark mixed reactions among pilgrims, religious leaders, and businesses that benefit from the annual celebrations, although public health experts are likely to support the move as a necessary step in preventing a possible Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
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